Nine Expected in Cigar Mile
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Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Goldencents has been assigned 120 pounds and is the high weight among the nine expected starters for the Nov. 30 $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Doug O'Neill, who also plans to saddle Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) winner Private Zone (118 pounds) in the Cigar Mile, Goldencents is seeking to add to his resume in the silver anniversary edition of the race. The 3-year-old Into Mischief colt is 3-3-0 from nine starts this year, including victories in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park.
As winners of Breeders' Cup World Championships races this year, Goldencents and Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) winner Groupie Doll, who was assigned 118 pounds, will be racing for an enhanced $1 million purse in the Cigar Mile.
The $1 million purse initiative for Breeders' Cup winners is one of two enticements by the New York Racing Association for the Cigar Mile. Grade I winners will run for an enhanced purse of $750,000. In addition to Private Zone, that group likely will include Flat Out (119 pounds), Verrazano (117), and Capo Bastone (115).
Rounding out the probable starters and their weights are Expressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) runner-up Laugh Track (116 pounds), Clearly Now (115), and Forty Tales (115).
High weight among the 22 original Cigar Mile nominations is Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle at 122 pounds.
First race post time is noon for Saturday's 10-race card, which includes the $400,000 Remsen (gr. II) for 2-year-olds; the $400,000 Demoiselle (gr. II) for 2-year-old fillies, and the $400,000 Comely (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies.